"Friendly little hidden gem"

Seven years ago, we spent six months attending auctions and viewings in Williamstown, but found homes there either needed a total rebuild or were impossibly expensive (or both). One weekend we strayed across to Altona and found ourselves admiring the expansive beachfront and Norfolk Island Pines. We viewed a house in Seaholme and that was it. Large block, quiet street, solid home and 100 metres from the sea. And affordable. Since then we've discovered the vast amount of wetlands , birdlife and Friends Groups who look after these beautiful assets. There is definitely a community feel here and people are right - It does offer a little bit of 'country' in a big city, and being country people, we like that. One thing we've noticed since moving here is that it is becoming more gentrified and a cafe culture has emerged. Old houses are being replaced by new townhouses, units and apartment blocks. And prices are rising rapidly. Downsides include the lack of effort by Council to do anything constructive about the smell of rotting seaweed, for example by fixing the storm drain outlet from Civic Parade. Also the amount of trash dropped into our bay from boaties and onto the streets by visitors to the area.

Pros

We are situated in a green wedge along the western coast of the bay. This is very important for bird and native animal life.

"My home town is perfect"

My husband and I have lived in Altona for the last 4 years with our two children and I couldn't be happier. It is not far from the CBD and has everything that you could want. Shops, schools, gps, gym and best of all the beach. It is green with many parks and established trees. It is overall a quiet town except during the summer months when heaps of out of towners visit but even then it's ok as it's lively. Thee is always something on and it's a real community where you always bump into people you know in Pier st or at the local Coles. I feel safe as there isn't much crime unless you live on the wrong side of tracks (ie the birdcage). The close to the beach, the nicer it is. The only downside is how expensive it is to buy a house now. You need around $1 million now for a house or for even a townhouse near the beach.

"Ideal for homebodies"

I've lived in Altona (three blocks from the beach) for just over two years now.

Altona is very quiet leafy suburb that is slowly being gentrifed which means it's slowly becoming to expensive for the average Australian. It's really ideal for a homebodies because it lacks a cafe culture despite having a beach. The restaurants are all subpar or just overpriced. Shops are nothing special there's a weekly street market.

It's reasonably safe. I only had my car keyed once and only seen graffiti along the train line. The neighbours tend to mind their own business and stick to themselves. The Internet connection tends to dropout (I've had both Optus and Telstra). From time to time you can smell the seaweed from the beach. The beach has free parking all year round which is a definite plus.

"A hidden gem in Melbourne"

Born and raised in the south eastern suburbs my partner and I started looking into purchasing our own property in the SE suburbs, we soon discovered that anything within decent proximity to the city in the south east was well and truly out of budget. We saw the west as the undesirable part of Melbourne - so begrudgingly we ventured out to the west and decided to have a look at Altona, so that we could justify how much nicer the SE suburbs were - expecting derelict houses, factories on every corner and questionable locals we planned a 5 minute drive through before heading back to the city for breakfast.

We reached the end of Millers Road, turned right onto the Esplanade and we both immediately fell in love. The bias, prejudice and lack of knowledge we had towards this suburb and Melbourne's west was blindingly obvious and scary. We ended up spending the day in Altona, enjoying the picturesque RJ Logan reserve, the beach, the wetlands and Pier St. We loved the place so much that we ended up buying a place a few weeks later. There are many things to love about this suburb, it feels very much like a village with a very relaxed feel, every day starts and ends for us with a walk along the beach which is lined with stunning Norfolk pines and a beautiful pier. Every day to day amenity that we require is here and we are very happy. I ride along the coast to work in the city, looking forward to getting into kayaking and kite surfing and our pup LOVES the dog park. It's a suburb that you will see a very interesting demographic in, some very old locals who have been there for years, young families, young couples, mature couples, people exercising, cycling, walking their dog...etc. Walking down Pier St, you can see it is a suburb with lots of development and potential - there are many coffee joints, foodie type places opening up! People talk about factories and wharehouses, but honestly I think that is ill informed; yes there is a refinery, wharehouses and factories but that is all outside of "Altona", Altona has a very village and community feel to it. The only time I see the industrial buildings is when I am leaving Altona.

Our friends, in their infinite wisdom told us what a mistake we were making moving to the west. Every single one of them, has said something along the lines of, "you guys live in an awesome location" and often we find them popping by because they were "just in the area" - wanting to get a coffee and food by the beach.

As great as the internet is - not everything on it is fact, I question a lot of the negative reviews that have been posted on Altona as they do not seem to marry up with what my partner and I have seen. My recommendation would be to visit the suburb, spend some time there and I think you will like it. The snobbery towards this suburb really does not do it any justice!

The above is nothing but praise - but obviously need to have some draw backs about the suburb.

(1) The 3 train stations on the "Altona Loop" are conveniently placed however train services are not the best outside of peak hour times. (2) As the weather warms up, there are a lot of people that visit Altona Beach and they are not the best characters - but I have never felt unsafe
(3) There have been snakes around at some of the coastal parks \
(4) You get the occasional hoon/loud bikes down the Esplanade and Queen St (but not late at night)
(5) The telephone exchange is currently classed as regional, so that locks out a lot of phone companies - but NBN is due in 2016 which would fix that!

MA2Thank you for such a balanced overview of the area. As I am thinking of moving from London to Melbourne it's extremely important for me to obtain as much constructive information as possible, most particularly as I will be coming to Melbourne next month for a holiday and I intend to look around 2 or 3 suburbs. Altona will now be one of them. Thanks again.

Aug 13, 2016

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"Great potential"

We moved few years ago to Altona,and we rent a nice house with beautiful backyard in very affordable price. The advantages: Altona`s good people, the excellent and highly recommended daycare, the beautiful pier, plenty of space, and it is not too far from the city. However, there are few issues:
1. Factories. Cherry Lake is also close to the factories. Not the best view....However, the direction of air from the sea takes all pollution to the other side, so it doesn't really get to Altona. Altona is crossed by a train line, and generally, the pollution doesn't get to the side close to sea, and air is fresh all the time (although some sea weeds can be smelly sometime). But also, it is much more expansive.
2. Hoon drivers. But less and less with time. (4 years ago when we moved in it was much worse).
3. During summer some "messy people" come to the pier from other suburbs, they jump, smoke, push, and require some police patrol in weekends.
4. Train is currently not express, although it was used to be.

My prediction is someday the factories will be shut down and Altona will be one of the best suburbs in Melbourne. Good-luck Altona!

"Near the city with a country fell"

Altona is a very peaceful, quiet and easy place to live and to get around. It has stacks of parks and sporting amenities and also nice places to eat without being yuppy like Williamstown. It has a really villiage feel but wont appeal to trendies like Yarraville does. It is really great place if you walking in the parks with your kids, or dogs either around Cherry Lake or along the Beach.

"Great beachside suburb!"

I first moved to Altona in 1998 when I was only 6 years old. My parents tell me that they fell in love with Altona when they took me to Williamstown beach but it was to crowded. So they decided to go to Altona beach only about 5-10 minutes drive away. I'm 19 now and I have no plans of moving out of this awesome suburb!

"Underrated beauty"

I've been happily renting here for the past 6 years. Altona is so underrated but that's okay. People in Altona seem to be genuinly happy with where they live regardless of what others say. Lots of beautiful parks and beach. The main street, Pier street could be better but it's pretty and does the job (off the top of my head.... there are Coles, video ezy, a couple of cafes, 2 chinese restaurants,1 fish&chips, two pizza shops, 2 chemists, newsagent, post office, 1 two dollar shop, 1 kebab shop, two viet/thai restaurant). Local markets, community events etc are nice also. Sadly I'm moving out soon because I purchased a house somewhere else but I will buy a nice house in Altona one day and come back :)

"Full of suprises"

Moved here under a year ago and things don't get much better when you buy a house under $550K. Granted the nighlife is not so great but with regular trains (every 20min) to the city it great. The thing I love most is being able to walk along the beach and see the city, heaps of bike paths, running tracks, wet land areas and two massive off leash dogs parks! Going out for dinner is cheap and the locals are friendly, plus it has it own little markets every Tuesday. Its like a country town but big enough that you don't see the same people all the time. I love it here.

miremaxyes...Altona is all ....oooohhh aahhhh....when you first land in it.....but after awhile and certainly within a few years you feel that something isn't quite right. Constant stench, polluted air, knife wielding non locals that maim and kill just outside your local supermarket, no more evening walks along the coastal stretches, everpresent toxic gassy emmissions and polluted beach waterconvolluted by impossible westie mentality crowds on hot summer days is not exactly paradise anymore....is it?
Altona has long its appeal....and real estate here is poised to sell and run....as Mobil and Qenos are not budging and are not fined enough for the polluting air and water....and land.

2yrs+

ChuckySarh, I have lived here for around 3-4 years and reciently started working in the area as well and personally I love it. Its got everything as you have mentioned plus alot more. In that time I've become a member of the Altona Yacht Club and Altona Dog School and have just started becoming a trainer at the dog school as well. You could nt want anything more out of this seaside suburb, its a great place.Miremax a picture says a thousand words and a think your picture says it all.

2yrs+

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"Altona is close to the CBD, close to the water and close to the heart"

I was born and raised in Altona, and having lived Melbourne all my life I can safely say that it has to be one, if not the best, of it's finest towns! Altona has something for everyone. Whether looking to settle down for retirement or raise a young family, everyone can enjoy it's speed and it's way of living. Altona has a strip of shopping along Pier Street, where you can dine of breakfast, lunch or dinner or just watch beach lovers as you sip a latte or green tea. Altona has a beautiful beach and esplanade, surrounded by parks and views of the Melbourne city skyline. Altona offers sporting opportunities with facilities such as the Altona Basketball Stadium, Kooringal Golf Club, Altona Tennis Club, Altona Cricket Club, Altona Football Club and the Altona Hockey Club.

Altona is a wonderful place, and I am privlidged to have experienced it both as a child growing up and as an adult raising my own children.

"Altona - parks, tranquility and relax!"

Altona has truly fantastic parks and open space and lovely places to go for a walk and relax. There are great sporting amenities and there are no hassles in parking at the shops and Altona has a good train and bus transport system especially for those going to Melbourne. People are friendly and polite but respectful of your own. If you are wanting to out down roots and buy some land then Altona offers very good sized blocks and space to grow and breathe and is miles more affordable than Williamstown which is priced rather pretentiously. There seems to be quiet a bit of development recently and presumably developers have aims to attract young singles and professionals to the Altona because they realise it is a very well kept secret and one the most undervalued suburbs by a mile and much quieter and family oriented than Williamstown which tends to be more oriented to those looking for bars, the cafe society and yuppy experience.

"Great Community Feel"

Altona is a great suburb close to the city with plenty of parkland, great place to raise a family. There are always lots of locally oranised events, from movies by the bay, to carnivals and bands and the best part is they are all free. Great community feel, lots of friendly people mostly family and lots of beautiful period homes.

Altona is low residential density suburb located 13 km southwest of Melbourne CBD and adjacent to Williamstown. It is a bayside suburb, with 1 of only 2 swimmable beaches in the western suburbs, the other being Williamstown Beach. It is rapidly undergoing gentrification, with very $1-2 million+ expensive mansions on the Esplanade fronting the sea, especially those with views of Melbourne CBD and Dandenong Mountain Ranges. It has a village resort feel and the hub Pier Street is increasing becoming chic and trendy, with new cafes and residential developments.

"Up and coming"

If your looking for a trendy up and coming beach suburb, Altona cant be over looked.
I have a roof restoration company, and often work in and around Altona. The suburb is quickly following in the footsteps of its neighboring suburb Willy for its trendy cafés and upmarket nightspots and shops.

Its only drawback would be the refinery's in the distance which must be passed through to get there.

"Family-oriented area with sporting and outdoor opportunities"

Named after the German city of the same name, Altona sits 13km south west of Melbourne and is home to almost 10,000 people. A large suburb suited to families and professionals, Altona offers residents lots of sporting opportunities, outdoor activities and public transport options. The suburb plays host to Altona Beach, many parks and gardens, wetlands, a library, a city theatre, two Scouts groups, a golf club and both walking and cycling trails. There are also football, hockey, baseball, basketball, cricket and lacrosse clubs in Altona, and an annual festival offers a street parade, arts and crafts exhibitions, competitions, fireworks and entertainers. Altona boasts three primary schools, three secondary schools and as many train stations as well as various bus services which operate within the town.